Latch for casement windows



Sept. 1, 1953 R. A. OLSON LATCH FOR CASEMEINT WINDOWS Filed Jan. 4, 1952//v/5/\/7-U/ RUDOLPH A. OLSON Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE LATCH FOR CASEMENT WINDOWS Rudolph A. Olson, Portland,Greg. Application January 4, 1952, Serial No. 264,910

By casement window i meant any type of closure for an opening where theclosure is hinged I to the frame of the opening at any side oftheopening.

This invention relates generally to devices for adjusting and holding acasement window to any desired degree of open position but asparticularly illustrated and described the invention is shown as appliedto a casement window having the window sash hinged to the window frameat the top of the window opening whereby the force of gravity on thehinged sash tends to return the sash to its closed position. However, itis to be understood that the invention is adapted to application to acasement window hinged on any side provided the window is biased towardits closed position by any means whether the biasing means be the forceof gravity, a counterweight, spring hinges, or other means.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide, for a windowbiased to closed position but opened to a desired position against thebiasing force, automatic means for latching the window in its desiredposition of opening, and means for releasing the latching means to allowthe window to return to its closed position at a desired speedcontrolled by the unlatching means.

It is a second object of thi invention to provide such a latching meanswhich is simple in operation, economical in production, rugged inconstruction, and pleasing in appearance.

It is a third object of this invention to provide such a latching meanscomprising a notched latch bar with a latch slidable therealong togetherwith a pair of brackets to one of which the latch bar is pivotallysecured and the other of which the latch is pivotally secured wherebythe latching means can be readily applied by securing one of thebrackets to the window and securing the other of the brackets to thewindow frame.

It is a fourth object of this invention to pro vide such a latchingmeans applicable to one wall side of a window frame and to the same wallside of a window whether the window opens toward that wall side of theframe or away from that wall side of the frame.

It is a fifth object of this invention to provide such a latching meansso adapted that if the window opens inwardly of the wall side of theframe to which the latching means is applied, the latch bar bracket issecured to the window frame and the latch bracket is secured to thewindow.

How these and other objects are attained will 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-265) beunderstood from the following description re- 'v ferring to the attacheddrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my latching means as applied to aninwardly opening window hinged at the top.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the mechanism of Fig. 1 showing thewindow latched in a desired position of opening.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the latch bar and latch ofthis invention with the latch bar being carried on the latch as it wouldbe when the window is being opened and the latch is between the notcheson the latch bar.

Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 but with the latch traversing a notch inthe latch bar.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a window sash ll carryinga window pane l2. The sash H is carried on hinges l3 anchored to windowframe It mounted in a wall l5. Secured to sash l l is a handle 20 bywhich the Window may be opened to a desired position.

Latch bar bracket [6 is shown secured to frame M by screws I! and latchbracket [8 is shown secured to sash H by screws l9.

Freely pivoted to bracket It by pin 2!, as shown, is latch bar 22 havinga series of notches 23 formed on its under edge. Edges 24 and 25 ofnotches 23 are formed transversely of the bar, and edge 26 joins theinner ends of notches 24 and 25. The outer end of edge 24 forms arelatively sharp right angled corner with the lower edge of bar 22,while the outer end of edge 25 is joined to the lower edge of bar 22with an arc of a circle to which the two edges are tangential, theradius of the circle being at least equal to the length of edge 24 whichis approximately equal to the thickness of the metal of which latch lu21 is made.

Latch 28 is formed of a rear plate member 29 joining back member 30 tolug member 2'! and is freely pivoted to latch bracket l8 by pivot pin 3|through latch plate 29.

Now assuming that the window is closed and latch bar 22 is hangingvertically downward sus pended on bracket [6 by pivot pin 2| as shown inFig. 1, and it is desired to open the window to a desired position andlatch it there, as shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to grasp handle20 and lift inwardly and upwardly. While this is being done latch bar 22rides along on lug 21 of latch 28, as shown in Fig. 3, until lug Z!arrives at and enters one of the notches 23 in bar 22. Further openingof the window tilts latch 28, as shown in Fig. 4, until the forward edgeof lug 21 clears the radius comer of notch edge 25 at which time latch28 proceeds along bar 22 taking the position shown in Fig. 3 until itcomes to the next notch 23.

Assuming that the desired window opening corresponds with the latchpositioned in the third not 23, as shown in Fig. 2, then when lug 21engages this notch the raising effort on the window handle is reducedand the Window is allowed to start to close under the pull of gravity.Latch 28 then tries to slip back along bar 22 but is restrained by notchedge 24 and latch 28 tilts around pin 3| until latch back 39 strikes theupper side or edge of bar 22. Bar 22 is then automatically lockedbetween latch back 30 and latch lug 21, as shown in Fig. 2. Edge 26 ofnotch 23 is formed to be approximately parallel to the bottom of lugs 21when the latch and bar are locked.

Then to close the window it is merely necessary to lift up on the outerend of bar 22, picking up thewindows weight on bar 22 through latch 29and latch bracket 18, then lowering the outer end of bar 22, whereuponthe window rides closed. without a jar as latch 28 slips along on bar22.

Extension 32 is merely one possible form of termination for latch bar 22and would be useful in closing the window in case the window wereunusually high oh the floor as some cellar windows might be.

Having thus recited the purpose of my invention, described theconstruction of a preferred form which my invention may take andexplained its operation, I claim:

1. The combination of an elongated latch bar, a latch, and means forslidably securing said latch to said latch bar, said latch bar beingformed with two parallel sides and two parallel edges, one of said edgesbeing continuous in a plane, the other of said edges being formed with aseries of notches therein, said latch comprising a back member adjacentsaid planar edge of said latch bar and a lug member adjacent saidnotched edge of said bar, each of said notches being of greater widththan said lug member, each of said notches being formed with one edge ofshorter depth perpendicular to said notched edge of said bar and withone edge of greater depth perpendicular to said notched edge of saidbar, said shorter edge of each of said notches meeting said notched edgeof said bar in substantially a right angled corner, and said longer edgeof each of said notches meeting said notched edge of said bar in an arcof a circle to which the two edges are tangential, the radius of thecircle being approximately equal to the depth of the shorter edge ofsaid notch, whereby when said latch is slid along said bar with saidback member of said latch resting on said planar edge of said bar saidlatch is freely slidable along said bar in either longitudinal directionof said bar, but when said notched edge of said bar is resting on saidlug member of said latch and said latch is slid along said bar in onelongitudinal direction of said bar said lug will rock freely throughsaid notches, and when said latch is slid along saidbar in the otherlongitudinal direction said bar will be locked between said lug memberand said back member when said lug member engages one of said notches.

2. A latching mechanism for a top hinged vertically swingable closurefor an opening formed in a wall, said mechanism comprising a latch barpivoted at one end to said wall to swing in a vertical plane, a latchpivoted to said closure to swing in a vertical plane, said latchincluding a lug positioned on one side of its pivot axis and a backmember positioned on the other side of its pivot axis, said lug beingadapted slidably to support said latch bar as said closure is opened,said latch bar being adapted slidably to engage said back member andsupport said closure through said latch as said latch bar is lifted toinitiate the closing of said closure, said latch bar being formed with anotch on one edge thereof, said notch being formed to pass said lug assaid closure is moved in an opening direction and said latch bar isresting on said lug and to prevent the passing of said lug as saidclosure is moved in. a closing direction and said latch bar is restingon said lug, whereby said closure can be opened to said notch andreleased to be latched in that position of opening and whereby saidlatch bar can be lifted to unlatch said lug and allow said closure toslide closed along said latch bar.

3. A latching mechanism for a top hinged vertically swingable closuremeans for the opening in a wall formed with said opening therein, saidmechanism comprising a latch bar pivoted at one end to said wall toswing in a vertical plane, a latch pivoted to said closure to swing insai vertical plane, said latch including a lug member positioned on oneside of its pivot axis and a back member positioned on the other side ofits pivot axis, said latch bar being formed with a notch on one edgethereof, said lug means being adapted slidably to support said latch baras said closure is opened, said latch bar being adapted slidably toengage said back member and support said closure as said latch bar islifted to initiate the closing of said closure, said lug, said backmember and said notch being adapted to cooperate to pass said lugrockingly through said notch as said closure is moved in an openingdirection while saidlatch bar is resting on said lug and to lock saidlatch bar between said lug and said back member at said notch when saidlug meets said notch as said closure is moved in a closing directionwhile said latch bar is resting on said lug, whereby said closure can beopened to said notch and released to be latched in that position ofopening and whereby said latch bar can be lifted to unlatch said lug andallow said closure to slide closed along said latch bar.

RUDOLPH A. OLSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,073,739 Cook Sept. 23, 1913 1,140,852 Roeder May 25, 19152,388,075 Peters Oct. 30, 1945 2,593,312 Joseph Apr. 15, 1952

